| Frequently
Asked Admissions Questions
Do
you offer scholarships?
Lakeside
does have endowed scholarships as a part of our financial aid program.
All awards are based on a family's financial need in addition to the
student's academic ability, interests, and talents. To allow the school
to determine a family's need, parents complete a Parents' Financial
Statement provided by the school and submit their most recent tax return,
W-2's, and other financial documents as requested. Detailed information
on Lakeside's program of financial aid may be found in Tuition,
Fees, and Financial Aid.
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Do
you have openings in every grade?
Our
primary entry years are grades 5, 6, 7, and 9. Students are accepted
in grades 8, 10, 11 and 12, but only if space becomes available. We
are not able to consider students for mid-year acceptance.
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Do
you accept international students?
Students
from other countries have been accepted, but we are not able to provide
services for foreign nationals who need instruction in English as a
Second Language, who are looking for a boarding program, or who need
financial aid. We do have the ability to issue an I-20 student visa
after a student has been accepted, but we require that foreign nationals
live in the Seattle area with family members in order to have the best
possible relationship between the family and the school.
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How
many applicants are accepted each year?
School-wide,
last year 24% of our applicants were accepted. The
percentage at each grade level varies from 13% to 33%. Since
most applicants meet the basic qualifications for admission, our limited
space makes the selection process very difficult.
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How
should I decide who would be a good personal reference for my child?
The
best academic or personal reference is someone who can speak directly,
specifically, honestly, and with insight about your child. We often
find that adults who have worked closely with your child (coach, music
teacher, employer) make excellent personal references, as do long-time
family friends. Who the personal reference is, or how "important"
or prestigious, is not a consideration for us.
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How
can I be certain that everything Lakeside needs is being sent in?
You
can call the Admissions and Financial
Aid Office at anytime to see how your child's admission folder is
progressing, and during the admissions season we will send status postcards
to let you know which materials are still missing.
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Can
you accommodate a student who needs help with learning skills?
Yes,
if we feel that the student can manage the challenges of our program
with the accommodations that we offer.
We have learning resources coordinators
in both divisions and both campuses offer individual and small-group
skills instruction for the short term at no charge. Long-term
individual tutoring is available at an extra cost, and financial aid
funds may be used to help with tutoring expenses for students already
receiving tuition aid. For more information
you can visit the
learning resources web page.
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How
are admissions decisions made?
Decisions
are reached by an admissions committee consisting of representatives
from the faculty and administration.
Committee members read candidate folders independently and evaluate
them according to each applicant's apparent ability to make positive
academic and co-curricular contributions to the school community. The
committee's final decisions are made based on the current composition
of a class and the choices that best enhance our group of students.
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If
my child is admitted to Lakeside, are there other responsibilities I
should know about?
Parents
are expected, but not required, to support the school by giving time
and energy to organizing or participating in Parents Association activities.
The Association offers a wide range of possibilities for parent participation
such as joining standing committees of the Association and assuming
leadership positions, and by volunteering or giving donations through
the Annual Fund, Auction or Rummage Sale. Moreover,
attendance by parents at plays, athletic contests, and concerts advances
the Lakeside tradition of active parental involvement. Most
parents find these "responsibilities" an enjoyable way to
get to know the parents of their children's schoolmates.
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If
I already have a child enrolled in the school or am an alumnus or alumna
of Lakeside or St. Nicholas, will my child automatically be accepted?
Many
factors are considered in the selection process, including sibling and
alumnus or alumna relationships. We
do give some weight in the process to siblings, children of alums, and children
of faculty and staff. As a result, the acceptance rate for such applicants
is generally somewhat higher than for others, but acceptance is not
guaranteed.
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What
does it mean to be designated an alternate?
It
means that we believe your child is a strong candidate who is capable
of being very successful at Lakeside but cannot be accepted at this
time because space is not available. If
a space occurs, the pool of alternates is reviewed by the admissions
committee, and a selection is made. Because
vacancies can develop unexpectedly, acceptances can occur even as late
as the opening of school in September.
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If
my child is not accepted at Lakeside, will I be able to find out why?
Most
Lakeside applicants possess an abundance of strong academic and personal
qualities, so in most cases it is easier to comment on positive aspects
of a student's application than it is to find a specific reason why
the student was not admitted. In addition, it can be difficult to comment
on a student's application as a whole when so many pieces of it are
confidential. Understanding this reality, the Director of Admissions
and Financial Aid is happy to speak with parents about their child's
application and give any feedback she can.
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How
do applicants reapply another year if they are not accepted or do not
attend?
You
may receive a new application form by phoning, or by downloading the
application from our website. Though
we retain the past information, we require the same forms to be gathered
again as children change so much from year to year. We also require
that they test again. If your child is accepted and does not enroll,
this decision is not held against him or her, but it does not guarantee
a subsequent acceptance.
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